Sports
B’ball League: Islanders Continue Winning Streak, Top Table
Lagos Islanders Basket
ball Club has so far continued its winning streak in the ongoing 2014/2015 Dstv Men’s Basketball League
The team walloped Oluyole Warriors of Ibadan, 86-62 in the week seven encounter of the Atlantic Conference.
The match played at the weekend at the famous Adamasingba Stadium, in Ibadan saw the star studded Islanders showing class in every department of the game.
Islanders’ victory put an end to the Oluyole Warriors clean slate at home since the 2013/2014 season.
The victory also kept Islanders on top of the Atlantic Conference table having recorded six straight victories, losing only to Kwara Falcons in week one of the league.
Coach Lateef Erinfolami of Islanders told newsmen on Monday in Lagos that the team was beginning to attain its potential.
‘’We are looking good after every match, and most importantly, the team is turning out the good results. However, going by the calibre of players in the squad, this shouldn’t be a surprise.
‘’We have the quality that can deliver, but we must continue to work hard on building a stronger team chemistry.
“Certainly, there will be tougher matches as the season progresses,” Erinfolami said.
In another match played in Lagos, Union Bank of Lagos beat Police Batons, 68-52.
The police batons continue at the bottom of the Atlantic Conference league.
The Batons have only won one match in the season so far, losing six and this has kept the police team in relegation zone.
Eight teams in the conference will scale through after the final season match which is just seven games away.
Coach Mark Balogun of the Batons team said that he was very optimistic of his team swimming out of relegation waters.
He said that poor officiating contributed to his team’s losses.
‘’We were robbed on many occasions by bad officiating on the part of the match referees and this is affecting most of our results.
“However, we are positive of escaping relegation at the end,” Balogun said.
With seven rounds of matches remaining in the league, Islanders top the Atlantic Conference table with 13 points, having won six games and lost one.
Dodan Warriors of Lagos is second with 12 points, winning five matches and losing two.
Customs of Lagos, Oluyole Warriors and Union Bank are placed third, fourth and fifth respectively.
The teams are on 11 points; they all recorded four wins and lost three matches each.
The sixth place team is Kwara Falcons of Ilorin, which has three wins from seven matches, earning 10 points.
Delta Force of Asaba and the Police Batons are at the bottom of the table, having lost six games from seven matches, with eight points each to their credit.
Both teams are on seventh and eighth positions on the league table.
Coach Benson Aikoroje of the Delta Force team said that his team would survive the relegation.
He said that though it would take a lot of hard work, they were capable of achieving the feat.
‘’We are new in the league and playing against teams that have been there for several years is very challenging.
‘’However, we are learning very fast from our mistakes and we hope to get it right soon,’’ Aikoroje said
The round of eight matches will commence in a fortnight due to scheduled All Stars Game of the DStv League which comes up May 23.
Pics 1: Fencing in action.
President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, Adeyinka Samuel, has said the country will host a unique 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships as the first sub-Saharan nation to stage the tournament, Tidesports source reports.
The championship will be held in Lagos from August 9 to 14, with the federation announcing that Rugby School Nigeria will host the event.
The Commonwealth Fencing Federation formally awarded the hosting rights for the 2026 championships to Nigeria in March 2025.
“It is the third international tournament the country will host, having also become the first to stage a junior épée World Cup, which was held in Lagos in December 2024. Nigeria also hosted the 23rd African Fencing Championships last year.
Nigeria’s hosting will be unique in several ways. First, it will be the inaugural edition on African soil, giving it historic significance. Second, we are integrating development initiatives such as an international training camp to foster technical exchange. Finally, the event will showcase African hospitality, culture, and energy, offering athletes a rich experience beyond the competition,” Samuel said on Wednesday.
“Preparations have advanced steadily across competition planning, venue readiness, logistics, athlete services, and partnerships.”
He also noted that over 24 Commonwealth nations have already registered.
“We are organising a pre-championship international training camp in Lagos to unite athletes ahead of the competition. Everything is moving in the right direction, and our focus is on delivering a world-class event that reflects Nigeria’s ability to host major international tournaments.”
The last two tournaments hosted by Nigeria were held at Charterhouse Lagos, and Samuel explained the choice of Rugby School Nigeria for this championship.
“The venue was selected for its modern, state-of-the-art facilities and its proximity to hospitality, tourism, and entertainment hubs. This ensures athletes and officials will enjoy excellent accommodation, transport, and leisure options during their stay.”
While thanking the private sector for its support in organising the championship, the president also called for greater government intervention in the fast-growing sport.
“The private sector has shown encouraging support, with institutions like Rugby School Nigeria and companies such as Flour Mills of Nigeria backing the championships. However, stronger government involvement is needed. Hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships is a milestone achievement, and we believe institutional support will help Nigeria maximise the opportunity and deliver a truly memorable event.”
The final draw was concluded at CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday and posted on the body’s website.
Notably, hosts Morocco will face a North African showdown in Group A, drawn alongside Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia.
Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, making Group A particularly competitive.
Group B features former champions Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon, alongside Uganda and debutants DR Congo.
In Group C, 2015 and 2017 champions and last year’s runners-up, Mali, will meet Angola, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
Group D is led by 2023 champions Senegal, who will face South Africa (2015 runners-up),
The eight quarter-finalists from the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
The teams finishing third in each group will contest two play-off matches to determine the final two qualifiers, bringing the total number of African representatives at the global finals to ten nations.
2026 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations – Groups:
- Group A: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia
- Group B: Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, DR Congo
- Group C: Mali, Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique
- Group D: Senegal, South Africa, Algeria, Ghana
Tidesports source reports that Nigeria will not feature at the tournament for the second consecutive edition.
The Golden Eaglets suffered a 2-0 defeat to rivals Ghana in the semi-finals of the WAFU Zone B qualifiers in September 2025, dashing their hopes of advancing to the finals.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will begin their title defence at the 2026 Unity Cup with a semi-final clash against Zimbabwe on May 26 at The Valley in South London, Tidesports source reports.
The four-nation tournament, which also features Jamaica and India, returns to its historic venue after the success of the 2025 edition in Brentford, where Nigeria emerged champions.
The competition, scheduled to run from May 26 to 30, blends elite football with cultural celebration, bringing together Afrocentric and global diaspora communities.
Nigeria’s opening fixture against Zimbabwe serves as a rematch of their recent encounters in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, setting the stage for a highly competitive contest.
The winner will progress to the final on May 30, while the second semi-final between Jamaica and India will be played a day later.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, expressed confidence in the Super Eagles’ chances while acknowledging the quality of the opposition.
“The Nigeria Football Federation is pleased with another opportunity to see the Super Eagles compete at the highly exciting and entertaining Unity Cup Tournament,” Gusau said.
“As perennial champions, the Super Eagles will look to retain their title again this summer, even as they will not underrate the other participating teams viz India, Jamaica and Zimbabwe. The tournament promises to be explosive and that is the setting in which the Super Eagles thrive best.”
The Unity Cup will culminate in a finals day featuring both the third-place play-off and the final, alongside a festival atmosphere that includes cultural showcases, food exhibitions, and live performances.
Zimbabwe Football Association president Nqobile Magwizi described his nation’s participation as a landmark moment, highlighting the opportunity to compete on an international stage in England for the first time.
“The Unity Cup represents far more than a celebration of football and culture, it is a powerful platform that reflects Zimbabwe football’s growing ambition to compete, perform, and excel on the global stage,” Magwizi said.
With Nigeria seeking to retain their crown and rivals eager to make their mark, the opening clash against Zimbabwe is expected to set the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested and culturally vibrant tournament.
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